Ecosensitive alternatives
Since consumerism is one of the threats to environment, Kalpavriksh looks at ecosensitive alternatives which can also provide a source of livelihood to rural people.
ORGANIC FOOD
Team: Manisha Sheth Gutman
Contact: shethgutman@gmail.com
GREEN CHOICES
Team: Shantha Bhushan, Sunita Rao
Contact: shanthasb@vsnl.com
We live in a world that has become increasingly dominated by synthetic products. Attractively packaged and beckoning us from the shelves of Departmental stores, they smoothly enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home for daily needs, such as, cleaning agents, cosmetics, processed food, pest control agents, packaging etc.
In earlier times many of these were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts. Increasing industrialisation and urbanization has made us replace home made products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts. This has now snowballed into a crisis. The use of detergents for cleaning clothes, hair and dishes or a cocktail of deadly pesticides to control household pests are a few examples of this domestic catastrophe.
Kalpavriksh is in the process of putting together a booklet on Green Choices. This booklet attempts to provide you with an idea of the sorts of toxic products that we buy, use and poison ourselves in our daily lives. For many of us, the information that has been presented will be shocking even frightening and tragic. Yet there is hope! There are ecologically sane alternatives to most of the toxic poisons that we use. Some of these are listed here for the reader to make an informed choice. It is crucial to realize that these alternative were and in most parts of rural India are still the mainstream way of living life.
In our quest for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, it is our hope that people will be inspired to examine their own personal lifestyles and find the courage to make a difference.
SAFE FESTIVALS CAMPAIGN
Team: Manisha Sheth Gutman, Sunita Rao
Contact: shethgutman@gmail.com
Team: Manisha Sheth Gutman
Contact: shethgutman@gmail.com
| Kalpavriksh has been supporting the issue of organic farming for several years in Pune. The organic food movement has slowly been gaining support as citizens have become more aware of the toxic effects of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Kalpavriksh has been working towards creating consumer networks that choose to buy organic food thereby providing a steady market ofr organic food suppliers. With the participation of associations such as the Kalyani Nagar Residents Association it is becoming possible to involve citizens in encouraging this movement. Kalpavriksh is also exploring the possibility of replicating such consumer networks in other parts of Pune. Apart from the actual sale of the food and produce, organizations such as Kalpavriksh and CEE have been raising awareness by organizing educational lectures and printing literature. |
GREEN CHOICES
Team: Shantha Bhushan, Sunita Rao
Contact: shanthasb@vsnl.com
We live in a world that has become increasingly dominated by synthetic products. Attractively packaged and beckoning us from the shelves of Departmental stores, they smoothly enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home for daily needs, such as, cleaning agents, cosmetics, processed food, pest control agents, packaging etc.
In earlier times many of these were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts. Increasing industrialisation and urbanization has made us replace home made products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts. This has now snowballed into a crisis. The use of detergents for cleaning clothes, hair and dishes or a cocktail of deadly pesticides to control household pests are a few examples of this domestic catastrophe.
Kalpavriksh is in the process of putting together a booklet on Green Choices. This booklet attempts to provide you with an idea of the sorts of toxic products that we buy, use and poison ourselves in our daily lives. For many of us, the information that has been presented will be shocking even frightening and tragic. Yet there is hope! There are ecologically sane alternatives to most of the toxic poisons that we use. Some of these are listed here for the reader to make an informed choice. It is crucial to realize that these alternative were and in most parts of rural India are still the mainstream way of living life.
In our quest for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, it is our hope that people will be inspired to examine their own personal lifestyles and find the courage to make a difference.
SAFE FESTIVALS CAMPAIGN
Team: Manisha Sheth Gutman, Sunita Rao
Contact: shethgutman@gmail.com
| Safe Holi In modern times festivals have become a source of pollution and damage to both the environment as well as personal health. Kalpavriksh has been working on the festival of Holi, to raise awareness about the toxic impacts of chemical colours and to provide natural alternatives for this joyous occassion. Our work involves educational demonstrations for children as well as consumers on how to make your own colours, the development and marketing of completey organic natural colours as an ecosensitive source of livelihood for farmers in South India. This year, we are beginning to explore the involvement of disabled children in this project on the lines of a similar project conducted by Society for Child Development in Delhi. Read more... |
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| Eco sensitive Ganesh Chaturthi As part of our Safe Festivals Campaign, Kalpavriksh has created posters depicting the water pollution caused by the immersion of Ganesh idols made of plaster of paris and chemical paints. These posters are part of an education and awareness raising drive to reach out the children, students and the layperson. In collaboration with the Center for Environment Education, Kalpavriksh has distributed over 250 posters to schools and colleges, and through the Pune Municipal Corporation several hundred were distributed around Pune. Read more... |
Rakshabandhan
A Rakhi is a symbol of love. Wouldnt it be wonderful if it could become a symbol of love for nature and all of life?
Read more...
Diwali
The 'festival of lights' is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. It symbolises the victory of good over evil and is also a time for fresh new beginnings. However, the modern celebrations of Diwali are adversely affecting the environment creating air and noise pollution, dramatic increases in consumerism and also increased load on electrical energy sources.
